USA > Illinois > McHenry County > History of McHenry County, Illinois : together with sketches of its cities, villages and towns : educational, religious, civil, military, and political history : portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, also a condensed History of Illinois > Part 82
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W. R. Willard was born in Sherbrooke, Canada East, March 3, 1819, and died in McHenry County, Ill., June 19, 1881. He was a son of William R. and Elinor M. Willard, natives of Vermont, his father born July 23, 1775, and his mother April 17, 1787. When fifteen years of age he came to Illinois, and lived in Kane County till 1845. He then moved to McHenry County, and made Nunda Township his home till his death. He was a successful farmer and stock-raiser, and owned 360 acres of fine land, well stocked with the best grades. He made a specialty of Morgan horses and cattle, and carried on a large dairy business. He was married Nov. 7, 1840, to Mary, daughter of Benjamin and Sarah (Sager) Wilde. To them were born four children-Charles M., born April 11, 1843; Caroline A., born Dec. 27, 1850, now Mrs. Thomas Grantham ; Lydia M., born Jan. 11, 1859, and Ellen M., born Sept. 27, 1861. Politically Mr. Willard was a Democrat. He was a prominent man of the township, and held several offices of trust. He was one of the charter members of the Masonic lodge in Nunda. Mrs. Willard's parents were natives of Lan-
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cashire, England, her father born March 2, 1795, and her mother March 31, 1789. They came with their family to America in 1826, and settled in Providence, R. I .; subsequently moved to Taunton, Mass., where her mother died Jan. 1, 1831. Her father afterward married again, and moved to Putnam County, Ill., and died there Nov. 16, 1837. To the first marriage was born a family of eight children-John, born Sept. 20, 1818; Edward, born Feb. 10, 1820; Mary (Mrs. Willard), born Nov. 24, 1821; Sager, born July 13, 1823; Thomas, born Feb. 15, 1825; Betsey L., born Nov. 25, 1826, Sara A., born June 8, 1829. To the second marriage three chil- dren were born-Benjamin F., born May 24, 1835; Abbie C., born July 2, 1837, and Joseph W., Dec. 24, 1839.
O. Willey was born in Jefferson County, N. Y., Jan. 25, 1808, a son of Eleazer and Wealthy Willey, natives of New York. His father died in 1833, and his mother a few years later. In 1833 he came West, and in 1834 went to Chicago and remained till 1835. He then went to De Kalb County, and took up a claim. In 1836 he moved to Lake County and took up a claim, and remained eight years. In 1844 he moved to McHenry County, and bought 140 acres of land in Nunda Township, eighty acres of it from the Government. Mr. Willey was married May 14, 1839, to S-, daughter of Elijah and Rachel White, and widow of Alexander Martin. They have six children-Almira, wife of G. S. Beach; Arminta, wife of William Gibbens; Maria, wife of Alonzo Parish; Charles, in California; Henry, on the home farm, and Lewis, in Kansas. Mrs. Willey had three children by her first marriage- John, died in April, 1858; William died in 1872, and Mary is the wife of Theodore Jones, of California. Politically Mr. Willey is a Republican.
CHAPTER XXVII.
RICHMOND TOWNSHIP.
A PROSPEROUS COMMUNITY. - THE FIRST SETTLER. - THE PIONEERS. - EARLY EVENTS .- PRESENT CONDITION OF SCHOOLS .- AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS. - THE VILLAGE OF RICHMOND .- ITS ORIGIN AND GROWTH .-- RELIGIOUS HISTORY .- SOCIETIES .- BIOGRAPHICAL.
Richmond is a thrifty and prosperous community. The land is well adapted to farming and grazing and the improvements are generally first-class. The surface is nearly level, though sufficiently undulating to furnish good drainage. The Nippersink Creek and its north and south branches are the only streams in the town- ship. The North Branch enters the township at Genoa Mills. The South Branch comes in at the southwest corner of the town- ship. The forks unite near Solon, and the creek makes its exit near the center of the eastern township line. Solon is situated on the main stream, and the village of Richmond on the North Branch. The Twin Lakes on the north side of the township have a small outlet flowing into the Nippersink.
The first settler in the town was Hon. Wm. A. McConnell, who. came in 1837 and erected the first building, a log structure, size 16 x 18 feet. Following him came Charles A. Noyce, John Purdy, Todd Francis, Daniel Newcome, Win. and Alexander Gardner, Stephen Pardee and R. R. Crosby, most of whom settled in 1838. Thenceforth settlement progressed quite rapidly until all the land was occupied.
The first death in Richmond Township was that of Francis Purdy. He died in August, 1839, and was buried on the 21st of the month in the Richmond cemetery. One week later Miss Hannah Thomas, daughter of Briggs and Amy Thomas, was buried in the same cemetery.
The first birth, after the advent of civilized man, was that of a daughter (Sarah) born to John and Pamelia Purdy, July 4, 1839.
The first marriage in the township took place in 1844 when Andrew Kennedy led Laura Warner to the altar.
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886 HISTORY OF MC HENRY COUNTY.
The township, although not without religious meetings, had no church until 1855 when the Methodist erected theirs at Richmond.
The town contains four cemeteries, one at Richmond two at Solon, and one at White school-house, in District No. 1.
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The first election for town officers was held at the house of John Purdy in 1850, when the following were chosen to the offices named : C. H. Russell, Supervisor; Wm. A. McConnell and-Blivin, Trus- tees; G. W. Daney, Treasurer and Assessor; Wm. A. McConnell, Justice of the Peace; Pliny Sales and David Baker, Constables.
The officers for 1884-'5 are: A. R. Alexander, Supervisor; John McConnell and John Coulman, Trustees; J. W. Haythorn, Treas- urer and Clerk; W. L. Turner, Assessor; R. K. Booth, Collector.
In 1838 Alexander, David and Wm. Gardner began the erection of a saw-mill on the Nippersink. It subsequently fell into the hands of Henry White and his son, John W. In 1840 they erected at Solon the first grist-mill in the county.
The first school in the township was taught by the daughter of Elder Peasc, of Crystal Lake, in the Montelona school-house. This school-house was built in 1841, on the corner of Wm. A. McConnell's farm, west of Richmond. In 1842 a school of forty pupils was taught at Solon by Charles Knapp.
The graded school at Richmond was first opened in the fall of 1861, immediately after the completion of the school-house, with Dr. S. F. Bennett as teacher. The principals of this school have becn Dr. Bennett, Mrs. McIntyre, Ed. Burton, M. H. Soper, E. R. Young, Albert Young, W. H. Clark, John Fisk and H. C. Faber.
The town contained at the last enumeration 221 males and 170 females of school age; total, 391. There are seven districts and seven school-houses-one brick and six frame. The value of school property is $7,450. Richmond school and Washington District both have libraries containing many volumes of valuable works, which were received through donations and the exertions of friends of education.
CHEESE FACTORIES.
The first cheese factory in the county was started in Richmond in 1866, by Dr. R. R. Stone and Hon. Wm. A. McConnell. It is now conducted by John McConnell.
J. S. Overton & Son's Nippersink Valley Creamery and Cheese Factory was built in 1880 at a cost of over $1,800. Its capacity
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HISTORY OF MO HENRY COUNTY.
has been enlarged. The factory now makes annually between 14,000 and 15,000 pounds of butter and about 60,000 pounds of cheese.
The Wheeler Cheese Factory started June 8, 1884. It was built by James Westlake at a cost of $3,500. The building was paid for in part by subscription. P. A. Allen and E. Bowers were the originators. The capacity of the factory is 15,000 pounds of milk per day.
RICHMOND VILLAGE.
The village of Richmond was laid out in 1844 by Charles Cotting and Theodore Purdy. An addition was made to the town plot in 1846 by the same proprietors.
In 1844, at the raising of the mill, it was proposed that the one who climbed to the top of the building should have the privilege of naming the village. This feat was accomplished by Isaac M. Reed, who gave it the name of Richmond in honor of a village in Vermont, known to him in childhood days. The township was named Montelona by Chas. A. Noyce, but afterward it was changed to Richmond.
The first house in the village was built by Chas. A. Noyce who owned the section where the village now stands. It was a log structure 20 x 24, and stood on the lot now occupied by George Purdy's buildings near his residence.
The mill built in 1844 was erected by Cotting & Purdy. It was 35 x 40 feet, and two and a half stories high. It is still in use but remodeled, improved and enlarged. Cotting & Purdy also erected a store-room the same year, which was occupied by Hale, Lee & Lay.
The first saw-mill in the township was built at Richmond in 1839 by John Purdy.
The first wagon-maker was Ralph Andrews; first blacksmith, David C. Andrews; first lawyer, C. K. Couch; first physician, Dr. Hessett. The first hotel was built in 1843 by Heman Gibbs, who kept it several years. It is now the only hotel of the place and is kept by C. N. Culver.
The village of Richmond was incorporated in 1872. The first election was held in Dr. S. F. Bennett's office, Sept. 2, 1872. The following officers were elected: President, Dr. S. F. Bennett; Clerk, A. R. Alexander; Treasurer, J. V. Aldrich; Magistrate, D. A. Potter; Constable, Alanson Brown; Trustees, Dr. S. F.
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HISTORY OF MO HENRY COUNTY.
Bennett, John Haythorn, George Purdy, William Purdy, John Holian, J. R. Hyde. Present officers or members of the board: President, Richard Wray; Magistrate, George Purdy; Constable, P. J. Skinkle; Clerk, F. W. Mead; Trustees, A. M. Pettingal, L. W. Howe, T. Schrader, R. Randall, Dan Dennison. The cheese, box factory and wagon factory are among the business interests.
The Richmond Pickle Factory was built in 1872 by G. W. El- dridge and John McConnell at a cost of $5,000, and has since conducted a successful business. Pickles are salted here and sold to other establishments for pickling. The capacity of the factory is 25,000 bushels annually.
Richmond Merchant and Flouring Mills are among the principal industries of the village. W. K. Bacon bought the property of Cotting, and in 1871 sold out to Cole, Cooley & Co. The mill was then worth $15,000 and is now worth $7,000 more. The present firm put in new machinery and refitted the establishment throughout in 1883. They also have a grain warehouse. They make all kinds of choice flour by the roller process. The capacity of the mill is fifty barrels in twenty-four hours.
POSTOFFICES.
The first postoffice established in the township was the Mon- telona postoffice, now Richmond. Wm. McConnell was the first Postmaster and received his commission in 1838. The following have since served as Postmasters: Wm. Adams, D. Bennett, Luther Emmons, Dr. Stone, Allen Potter, J. V. Aldrich, D. A. Potter and Marcus Foot, the present Postmaster. The first money- order was paid at this office Aug. 2, 1869, to G. W. Conn. It was issued at Black River Falls, Wis., July 16, 1869, to W. B. Porter; amount, $20; number of order, 8,470. It was received at the office July 19, 1869. The first money-order issued by this office was to Russel Fuller, of Richmond, July 13, 1869; amount, $49. 50, made payable to J. & M. Earley, Rockford, Ill.
The Postoffice at Solon Mills was established in 1843. Leverett Steele was the first Postmaster. James T. Hodge is the present Postmaster.
CHURCHES.
Methodist Episcopal Church of Richmond was organized Nov. 3, 1838, by Rev. L. S. Walker who preached two years. At this time the society formed a part of the Crystal Lake Circuit which
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HISTORY OF MO HENRY COUNTY.
comprised about thirty appointments. This society has been supplied by the following minist ers: Rev. Walker was succeeded by O. A. Walker as preacher in charge with Nathan Jewett as junior preacher. Walker preached one year and was succeeded by Nathan Jewett as preacher in charge with Father Gaddis as an as- sistant. They were succeeded by Nathaniel White and Dr. Decker the year following. At the expiration of one year Dr. Decker was appointed senior preacher with L. Whipple, junior preacher. Amos Wiley succeeded Dr. Decker, Whipple remaining as junior preacher. L. S. Walker was again appointed to this charge as senior preacher with John Rhodes, junior preacher. After their term of services expired Nathan Jewett came for the second time. After one year he was succeeded by B. F. Jacobs, assisted by Reverend Grant.
They were succeeded in one year by Rev. Calvin Brookins. At this time the church assumed the name of Richmond charge with Richmond and Hebron as the two preaching points and has since so continued. Rev. Brookins was succeeded by Edwin Brown who remained one year, when Dr. J. H. More became pastor and served nearly two years, going from this charge into the army as Chaplain of the Ninety-fifth Illinois Infantry.
Thomas Corwin succeeded him and died after ser ving the charge only a few months. He was quite an able man and a much beloved preacher. E. M. Battis succeeded, who served two terms and was followed by H. M. Triggs, who served two years. After him came G. S. Wiley, two years; Nathan Critchett, two years; Samuel Earngey, three years; P. C. Stere, two years; W. F. DeLap, two years. In October, 1881, Grover C. Clark was appointed pastor. During the ministry of Rev. Brookins, Dr. More and Rev. Earngey great growth of the church was manifest. Previous to the build- ing of their house of worship they held religious services in the Montelona school-house. They dedicated their house in 1855. It is situated on Main street, is a frame building and will seat about 250. It cost $2,500. Its present membership numbers forty. Present officers: Stewards, Wm. A. McConnell, John McConnell; J. L. Downing, Russel Fuller and Daniel Dennison, Trustees: George McConnell, Treasurer; Wm. A. McConnell, Class-Leader. Previous to the organization of the Sunday-school, a union Sabbath- school was attended by the children of all the denominations. Peter Whitney was the first Sabbath-school Superintendent. The present officers are: J. L. Downing, Superintendent ; Mrs.
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HISTORY OF MC HENRY COUNTY.
Mary Fuller, Assistant Superintendent; Geo. McConnell, Secretary; George McConnell, Librarian and Treasurer. The enrollment num- bers fifty scholars. The church is in quite a prosperous condition; its success since its organization has been inainly due to the energy and liberality of Wm. A. McConnell, who has not only paid out his money with a bountiful hand but has been one of the spiritual pillars of the church and has for the past nineteen years been the Class-Leader.
Solon M. E. Church was organized in 1873, and a house of worship erected soon after at a cost of $1,600. The congregation is prosperous, with a good membership. There is a flourishing Sunday-school, of which Mrs. Fannie Overton is Superintendent.
Congregational Church of Richmond was organized Dec. 18, 1843, by Rev. L. Rodgers. Its first members were only seven in number. Robert W. Chapman and Dan. Rowe were elected Deacons at the first church election. Robert Rowe and wife presented the first child for baptism. The following is a list of the ministers in charge: Rev. I. A. Hart came April, 1847, and preached half of the time and remained till June 1, 1848; Rev. J. V. Downs, till Feb. 4, 1854; Rev. C. C. Cadwell, till May 2, 1869; Rev. Francis J. Douglass some ten or twelve years. Since October, 1883, Rev. Charles Fraser has been the pastor. The congregation held services in the Montelona school- house prior to securing a house of worship, which consists of a re- modeled school-house, which will seat about 100. The present membership is 150. Present officers: Deacons, Walter Jones and C. S. Reeder; Treasurer, C. S. Reeder; Clerk, Dr. S. L. Ward.
Montelona Baptist Church was organized Sept. 3, 1842, by Elder P. W. Luke, with the following members: Seymour Miller, Christopher Grant, John Stewart, Marcellus Pritchard, Eli Miller, Rachel A. Miller, Mary Streeter, Thomas Bucklin, Eliza Bucklin, Thomas C. Stewart, Eliza Stewart, Eliza Grant, Matilda Miller- thirteen in all. Elder Wheeler, who was the prime mover in the formation of the church, had preached to the people for some time before a congregation was organized. He has since ministered frequently to the church. The first pastor was Elder McOmber, who was succeeded by Elder S. Stimson for three years and a half, Elder Joel Wheeler (1859-1861), Elder Young, Elder C. H. Smitlı, (1862), E. O. Taylor, a student, Elder Dye, Elder . G. Cressey, Elder Wheeler, Elder J. Young, Elder E. Anderson, Elder H. A. Palmer-all students. The church was then without a pastor until
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Elder Wheeler again took charge and is still acting as supply. Services were held in school-houses until 1865, when the present church building was erected in the northern part of the village of Richmond. Its cost, including lot, was about $1,200. The memn- bership is not now over twenty-five, though in 1878-'9 it reached 100. The present officers are: Wm. Harrington and Jeremiah Robinson, Deacons; Mrs. D. A. Potter, Clerk.
SOCIETIES.
Richmond Lodge, No. 143, F. & A. M., was organized in 1854 with the following charter members: C. E. Bromley, C. H. Crossman, D. A. Martin, A. L. Smith, J. F. Hamilton, D. Mc- Kibbens, Rhoads Parker, David Parker, William Pratt, Edwin Brown, W. J. Hamilton. The first officers were: Charles F. Cot- ting, W. M .; Robert Bennett, S. W .; Geo. E. Leach, J. W .; David Baker, Treasurer; Asa Bennett, Secretary; Rev. Nathaniel Jewett, Chaplain; Alonzo Ramon, S. D .; Alex. Brander, J. D .; James W. Sherlock, Tyler. Present number of members, fifty-nine. Present officers: J. V. Aldrich, W. M .; P. K. Allen, S. W .; H. J. Christian, J. W .; George McConnell, Treasurer; A. R. Alexan- der, Secretary; John J. Moore, S. D .; Geo. H. Shibley, J. D. Stewards: Homer Hastings, S. S .; Robert Tweed, J. S .; Chas. Coulinan, Tyler.
Richmond Post, No. 286, G. A. R .- Having duly petitioned the proper authorities to be constituted a post of the G. A. R., Department of Illinois, and said prayer having been granted, on Monday evening, June 27, 1883, special mustering officers William Avery, of Woodstock Post, No. 108, Department of Illinois, came forward and, assisted by the following named officers, G. S. Southworth, S. V. C .; E. E. Richards, J. V. C .; A. S. Wright, Adjt. ; E. W. Blossom, Q. M .; Asad Udell, O. G .; H. T. Wood- ruff, Chaplain; Larry Jones, L. M. S .; Geo. Eckert, O. D .; S. Van Curen, S. M., of Woodstock Post, No. 108, the following named recruits were duly mustered in as comrades of Richmond Post, No. 286, G. A. R., Department of Illinois, in due form: Samuel L. Orvis, Thomas Sutton, H. H. Nichols, Wm. Peacock, Edward E. Brown, J. B. Vosburgh, J. A. Halderman, G. C. Clark, F. W. Mead, S. F. Bennett, John C. Smith, S. O. Stephens, J. W. Sanborn, John Bellings, H. Christian, L. B. Rice, J. F. Packer. The post then elected the following named officers: S. F. Ben. nett, C .; F. W. Mead, S. V. C .; J. W. Sanborn, J. V. C .; 56
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HISTORY OF MO HENRY COUNTY.
John C. Smith, Q. M .; L. B. Rice, Surgeon; G. C. Clark, Chaplain; Henry Christian, O. D .; John Bellings, O. G. Commander Ira R. Curtiss, of Harley Wayne Post, No. 169, Marengo, being present, came forward and duly installed the above named com- rades into their respective offices. Post Commander S. F. Ben- nett thereupon appointed Edward E. Brown, Adjutant; H. H. Nichols, Sergeant-Major and S. O. Stevens, Q. M. Sergeant, who were also by Commander Curtiss duly installed. It was then on motion resolved that this post be named and known as Richmond Post, No. 286, G. A. R., Dept. of Illinois. The present number of members is twenty-nine. The post is in a growing condition and considerable interest is manifested in its welfare by its members.
The following is a summary of the business interests of the town of Richmond: Agricultural implements, F. W. Mead; boots and shoes, George Alfs; blacksmith, Robert Johonnott; barber, H. Chevillion; wagon-maker, A. P. Grey; dress-makers, Mrs. Libbie Darling, Mrs. S. J. Emmons; dentist, L. B. Rice; druggist, A. R. Alexander; furniture, Downing & Dennison; harness manu- facturers, John West; hotel, C. E. Culver; hardware, H. E. Boutell, Milan Hicks; jewelry, C. F. Paxon; merchants, Aldrich & Burton, C. F. Hall & Co., D. A. Potter, Smith & Haythorn; meat-markets, John Billings, Cropper & Paxon; milliners, Mrs. G. B. Carpenter, Mrs. S. O. Stevens; physicians, S. F. Bennett, S. R. Ward; flour-mill, Cole, Cooley & Co.
The business of Solon Mills is represented as follows: Agri- cultural implements, James Robbins; carpenters; William Gard- ner; John Merrill, John Sutton; cheese manufactory, J. S. Overton; dressmaker, Mrs. Sarah Hodge; harness manufactory James Corkhill; merchant, R. B. Gardner; mason, John Skilli- corn; physician, Henry Hornby; restaurant, Robert Patterson.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
J. V. Aldrich was born in Kalamazoo, Mich., June 26, 1837, a son of Sylvanus and Lydia (Crandall) Aldrich, his father a native of New Hampshire and his mother of Connecticut. Sylvanus Aldrich went to New York when a young man and in 1832 to Angelica, N. Y., where he was married, and in 1835 moved to Michigan. In 1840 he moved to South Bend, Ind., and from there in 1843 to Logansport, and two years later came to Illinois and lived in Lake County two years, moving to McHenry County in 1847. He was by trade a miller and followed the business in the
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HISTORY OF MO HENRY COUNTY.
various places in which he lived. In 1862 he enlisted in the Thirty-second Illinois Infantry and when in Chicago, before his de- parture for the field, fell from a bridge into the river aud was drowned, Sept. 1, 1862, aged fifty-seven years. He was buried in the Solon cemetery with Masonic honors. His wife is living at Richmond, aged seventy-one years. J. V. Aldrich worked with his father at milling till twenty-five years of age. He then began clerking in a dry-goods store and in 1867 went into the dry-goods business with M. H. Booth. In 1869 J. W. Haythorn became a partner and the business was carried on three years, under the firm name of Haythorn, Aldrich & Co. He then sold his interest to Smith & Haythorn and built the store where he is now located and opened a dry-goods store. In 1881 Mr. Burton .bought an interest in the business and the firm became Aldrich & Burton. Mr. Aldrich was married Oct. 20, 1870, to Nellie, daughter of David Sackett, of DeKalb County, Ill. They had one child- Ella R., who died in infancy. Mrs. Aldrich died Aug. 22, 1871, aged nineteen years. Aug. 27, 1873, Mr. Aldrich married Mary, daughter of Shepherd Ercanbach, of Hebron, Ill. They have four children -Harold, Roy, James and Kennie; also an adopted son, Claud S. Politically Mr. Aldrich is a Republican. He has been Postmaster of Richmond four years, was Justice of the Peace two terms. He has been a member ofthe Masonic fraternity since 1857, and has taken the Knight Templar degrees.
George Andrews was born in Essex, Mass., Jan. 22, 1813, the eldest of ten children, five sons and five daughters, of Tyler and Eunice (Goldsmith) Andrews, and grandson of Zachias Gold- smith of Revolutionary fame. When he was nine years old he left home and from that time took care of himself. He was obliged to work hard for the privilege of attending school three months in the winter. The winter he was fourteen he helped get the hay for the stock and hanled it two or three miles; got the year's wood and cut it, and walked a mile to school. The spring after he was sixteen he went to work in a ship-yard and remained there three years with the exception of two months each summer in haying time. He then began to work at the carpenter and joiner's trade. His father being poor and owning no home, he went to work to get one for him. He bought a lot and built the most of the lionse from the cellar to the chimney, even blasting the stone for the cellar walls and foundation. Dec. 25, 1835, the family moved into the new house. The same month Mr. Andrews
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HISTORY OF MC HENRY COUNTY.
left for Salem and worked at teaming through the winter. The next summer and fall he worked at the carpenter and house join- er's trade, and in November went to Lynn, and worked at the same trade ten months; then bought a threshing machine which hie ran in Essex and adjoining towns. In the spring of 1838 he came West, landed in Chicago, May 12, and worked on the canal till July; then traveled over the country a couple of weeks, and finally located in McHenry County; worked for S. Pardee the most of the time for two years. Feb. 2, 1840, he was married to Cordelia M. Allen, of New York, and bought the first frame house in this section, built by Martin Hoffman. He moved it to his farm and lived there three years, when the land was bought from under him by a man whom he had befriended many times. By the kindness of neighbors his house was moved to the place where it now stands. His farm then contained eighty acres but he has been prosperous and now owns 210 acres. In 1841 he and Mr. Pardee went to Chicago and bought a threshing machine which they ran two years, receiving $2 and four bushels of wheat for every 100 bushels threshed. The whcat was taken to Chicago and sold for 40 cents a bushel. In 1847 his health became im- paircd and he rented his farm and moved to Union Ridge, near Chicago. In June, 1847, his wife died, leaving four children- Henry I., born Dec. 10, 1841; John Q. A., born Marchi 9, 1843; A. W., born April 7, 1845, and an infant that died before the mother. The following October he went to Essex, Mass., mak- ing the trip from Chicago to Albany by water. His children were noticeable for their good behavior and thus the care of them was not so hard for the father. He worked at his trade nine months and in the meantime sent an order to Chicago for one of the first McCormick reapers. In July, 1848, he returned to Illinois, bought a span of horses and a harness, and in company with R. Pierce ran the reaper and a Wimple separator two years in Richmond. Of late years Mr. Andrews has paid special atten- tion to stock-raising, and has the finest grades of cattle, sheep and Poland-China hogs. He has always taken a great interest in school matters and was one of the first School Trustees in the township. He has never aspired to official honors, although one of the foremost to aid any project that promises benefit to the county. He took ten shares in the Milwaukee & Fox River Rail- road and it cost him $2,000 to get rid of it. He was married a second time in 1850, to Mariam L. Coon, of New York, who died
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